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First Election in Kansas Territory

Wednesday, November 29, 1854

The first election is held in Kansas Territory, and Democrat John W. Whitfield, a proslavery settler and veteran of the Mexican-American War, is selected as the territory's first delegate to Congress. Free-Staters complain about fraudulent voting by Missourians who cross the border to cast their ballots and intimidate antislavery voters, especially in proslavery towns such as Leavenworth.

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Civil War on the Western Border: The Missouri-Kansas Conflict,1855-1865

This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the
provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State with additional support from the William T. Kemper Foundation - Commerce Bank, Trustee